I actually got one of the Original Big Joe's for my birthday four years ago.  For the first 35 years of my grilling life, I was a gas grill guy.  I have tried cooking everything on the Big Joe and can honestly say that whether I'm smoking a pork roast or turkey, grilling steaks or burgers, and even cooking vegetables the cooking experience is second to none.  Start up is easy with Kamado Joe starters and big block coal.  If you have not ever cooked on a kamado learning to bring the grill takes a little work, but once you master that you can cook anything like a pro.  It may sound crazy, but family and friends all agree that everything tastes better and more incredible coming off the Joe. And then clean up is super simple. I'd take the Big Joe over a gas grill every time.  I love it!  As I said when I started, I have an original, but it's clear to me that Kamado Joe is focused on improving an already incredible product with the tweaks they have made on the Big Joe II and now the III.